Widespread Medical Malpractice in Queensland

Ava Benny-Morrison reports in the Fraser Coast Chronicle that a WHISTLEBLOWER has raised serious questions over the credibility of a report into widespread medical malpractice in Queensland. Here.The parliamentary crime and misconduct committee released the report, compiled by former judge Richard Chesterman QC, on Monday afternoon following Queensland Health's Ethical Standards Unit member turned whistleblower Jo Barber's allegations of gross and largely ignored medical malpractice with the state health system.Ms Barber, helped by former Burnett MP Rob Messenger - who also assisted disgraced Dr Jayant Patel whistleblower Toni Hoffman - alleged more than 100 cases of misconduct. Mr Messenger said on Monday night the report was a big slap in the face for whistleblowers. "It was always going to be a whitewash," he said. "The whole process of the assessment has been shrouded in secrecy; it has not been a transparent process at all. Claims of malpractice involve 34 deaths on the Sunshine Coast, 37 doctors who operated or treated patients for a year and a half at Bundaberg Hospital without proper credentialing or privileging and a psychopathic Gold Coast doctor currently under investigation for four deaths. A GP and five nurses from the Sunshine Coast came forward with some of the allegations, Mr Messenger said. Ms Barber said the investigating health agency knew of a Toowoomba doctor who sexually assaulted child patients on numerous occasions but did nothing about it. Both Ms Barber and Mr Messenger are calling for a Royal Commission into the alleged malpractice so witnesses and whistleblowers will be able to give evidence under oath and protection. Health Minister Lawrence Springborg welcomed the report's recommendations and said he agreed with the thrust of Mr Chesterman's suggestion that a legal counsel review the various health agencies response to the complaints over the past five years. "I take particular note of the need for legal scrutiny of cases processed by these agencies over the past five years and for a review of cases in which there was a conflicting response by the agencies concerned," Mr Springborg said.In Sydney New South Wales Bryan McKee Hata has been fighting Westmead Hospital for his job since being accused of writing some twenty letters blowing the whistle on serious concerns about Medical Care and Governance at Westmead Hospital and Western Sydney Local Health District. We do not know whether McKee Hata wrote the letters or not. But someone did, or up to twenty concerned staff did. Their concerns should be taken seriously.If you believe that there should be a Royal Commission or Judicial Review of Westmead Hospital Medical Practice and Governance concerning the facts alleged in the letters said to have been written by McKee Hata and the Tarnow Mordi Scandal please write to your Member of Parliament and state your views.The NSW Minister of Health the Hon. Gillian Skinner MP can be contactedat her Ministerial Office: